Ponta dos Ganchos

“Luxurious, secluded beach hotel on the side of a forested hill, where huge private decks give magnificent views of Ganchos bay”

Located on a private peninsula near Florianópolis on Brazil's south coast, Ponta dos Ganchos is one of the country's most exclusive beach resorts. A ridge of Atlantic rainforest runs down to the water, where 3 tiny islands horseshoe around a sandy bay. A thatched restaurant idles 10 feet from the beach, but paddle across to one of the islands and you find a bar that’s illuminated by torches at night. You're in the middle of nowhere here, and Ponta dos Ganchos delivers the dream: idyllic landscapes of emerald sea and forest, contemporary interiors in 25 beautiful cabanas (some with private plunge pools, saunas and Jacuzzis) and service that’s second to none (breakfast can be served at any hour of the day).

Follow the coast round on either side and you come to tiny fishing villages, but most stay put and bask in luxury. There’s an indoor pool, tennis and volleyball, even a private cinema. Snorkelling, diving (including tuition), canoeing, sailing and boat trips are also on offer.

Special offers

for i-escape guests

Free dinners, massages or romantic extras (choose preferred)

Special Carnival inclusions

Special Easter inclusions

A little extra

for i-escape guests

a free welcome drink and a basket of fresh fruit in the room

Highs

Fabulous position on the side of a hill with dazzling views of Ganchos Bay

The beach: small, but it's very picturesque, private and you'll be pampered on it

Clear, calm water ideal for swimming

Deeply luxurious cabanas, all with with private sea view decks; some with plunge pools

A private cinema: spurn the sun and watch your favourite movie

Lows

The price tag is high although the daily rate includes breakfast and use of all nautical equipment. Be prepared for wild premiums by any standard for Christmas, New Year and Carnaval

The staff are young and friendly but some are rather inexperienced and speak only limited English

This is a quiet spot, with no nightlife to speak of (the hotel bar was deserted in the evenings); the nearest big town (Florianópolis) is 45km away

No children under the age of 18

Best time to go

“High season is generally December to April when it's warm and humid. The coastal location ensures that temperatures rarely exceed 85F (daytime in January) and generally do not fall below 55F (nighttime in July). Even in winter (June-September), when rates are lower, daytime temperatures usually reach 70F. Rainfall is a possibility throughout the year, but January and February often experience slightly heavier showers.”

Our top tips

“Stay for at least 3 days, a week if possible. If you want some city action before or after your stay, Ponta dos Ganchos is ideally placed for combining with a stay in São Paulo.

Make sure you bring a good book or 2, and mosquito repellent if staying between December and March.”

Rooms

There are 25 wood and stone cabanas scattered over the side of the hill, all with imperious views of Ganchos Bay and the Emerald Coast. The smallest Anhatomirim rooms are still enormous and come with open fires in the sitting rooms, walk-in wardrobes, excellent bathrooms with showers (but no bathtubs) and walls of glass that open onto huge decked balconies, all of which look out to sea.

You may well wonder what more you get if you slide up the price scale. The simple answer is more space and private Jacuzzis. Arvoredo rooms have private dry saunas; the Vilas also get small private sea-water pools and gardens, as well as 2 showers; the Especial da Vilas and the Esmeralda villas have their own wine cellars!

The décor in all is simple and uncluttered: big beds, fine Egyptian cotton, neutral colours, comfy sofas and oodles of light; or in 2 words: absolute luxury.

Features include:

Air conditioning

CD player

Central heating

Coffee maker

DVD player

Fan

Fireplace

Hairdryer

Minibar/fridge

Phone

Radio

Safe box

Satellite TV

Toiletries

WiFi

Eating

You can eat whenever you like; a complimentary buffet breakfast is served all day and they’ll bring it to your cabana, or you can drop down to the lounge. Predictably it’s a feast: fruits from the jungle, yoghurts and juices, cereals, cakes and homemade breads. There are croissants and rolls, waffles and toast, and eggs anyway you want them. If that’s not enough, there are 9 different cheeses and a selection of hams and salami. Don’t expect to go hungry.

The beachside restaurant serves à la carte lunches and dinners, with different menus each day. Lunch is informal, dinner is more of a spectacle. You get lots from the water - prawns, oysters, mussels, fresh fish. To give you an idea, here’s a taster, 3 of each course plucked from various menus; starters: baby squid with marinated tomato salad, oysters in lemon sauce or fois gras with fruit chutney; main courses: fillet steak with mustard and cognac sauce, asparagus risotto or grilled chicken breast with orange, ginger and shitake mushrooms; puddings: hot chocolate pie, strawberry soup or basil ice cream. If you want, you can dine in romantic splendour on one of the islands that's accessed by a pier. There’s only 1 table (with a dedicated waiter, décor and music provided) so you get the island to yourself. There’s an extensive wine list, too.

During the quieter winter months (June/July), the hotel often hosts gastronomic weekends with some of South America's finest chefs.

Features include:

Bar

Breakfast

Coffee maker

Minibar/fridge

Restaurant

Room service

Vegetarian menu

Activities

If you want to stay put, you can swim from the beach in clear blue water; the tiny islands shelter you from the ocean beyond and turn this drop of sea into a private lagoon. There's an indoor pool for the cooler months (June-September)

Flippers, masks and snorkels are all provided, so you can explore the bay, and strike out further with canoes and sailing dinghies

A plethora of keep-fit facilities are on offer - a gym, a pool, a tennis court, volleyball and a jogging track

Play a game of chess or pot a few balls on the snooker table

There’s also a small cinema with a large screen (as in an English pub). The ultra-comfortable armchairs make this a kingly place to watch a movie, so ask at reception and they’ll pop one on (you can choose), or come for the World Cup, Wimbledon, the Masters or a Grand Prix

Take boat trips (at extra cost) up the coast to the Arvoredo Marine Reserve for some of the best diving off the Brazilian coast, or to Anhatomirim for dolphin spotting

Enjoy a massage and Jacuzzi

During the winter season (July to October) excursions to Imbituba/Praia do Rosa to see southern right whales can be arranged on request - it takes 2 hours to drive there

Activities on site or nearby include:

Boat trips

Cycling

Fishing

Hiking

Kayaking

Pool table

Sailing

Scuba diving

Scuba diving courses

Snorkelling

Swimming

Tennis

Tennis coaching

Trekking

Whale watching

Kids

Location

Ponta dos Ganchos is situated in Governador Celso Ramos, a fishing village on the coast of Santa Catarina state, in the south of Brazil. It's 45km north of Florianópolis, 650km from São Paulo and 1100km from Rio de Janiero.

By Air:Florianopolis Hercílio Luz Airport (64km) is the nearest airport and is served by several domestic carriers from Rio and Sao Paulo.

From the AirportGuests can be met in Florianópolis and driven to the hotel by bilingual drivers. Helicopter transfers can also be arranged (see Rates).